Aristotle, in 350 BC, was also asking the same questions: what could make content – in his case, a speech – persuasive and memorable so germany business fax list that ideas could be passed from person to person. The answer he gave was three principles: ethos, pathos and logos. In order for content to reach people's hearts and go viral, it must have an ethical appeal, an emotional appeal or a logical appeal.
A rhetorician with mastery in all three would likely leave a persuaded audience behind. Substitute the rhetorician for the online content creator and you’ll see that Aristotle’s principles seem entirely modern. Content that is credible, worthy and engaging for your audience makes sense. For example, look at the latest articles you recommended to a friend, shared on your Twitter account or Facebook page – they would likely fit into those categories.
What is viral content?
The term “viral” content refers to content, whether it be an article, video, meme, or infographic, that has been liked and shared hundreds, thousands, or even millions of times in a short period of time. The main factor is the “suddenness” or rapid virality of the content. If it took a long time to be consumed, it is not viral.
A collection of social media and app icons arranged around a blurred smartphone background.
Around 93% of marketers use social media as a sure-fire way to increase referral traffic and boost social signals . That adds power to your links for better search rankings. But the question remains: what makes content go viral?
